With running back Laurence Maroney sitting out the game with a groin injury, Sammy Morris became the featured back and showed off why New England brought him in as a free agent this offseason. Morris responded with his second career 100-yard game, finishing with 117 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries to lead a Patriots rushing attack that had 173 yards on 34 carries. A Boston Globe piece breaks down Morris's performance.
It was the Patriots secondary that kept the game from becoming a shootout in last nights 34-13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Boston Herald writes that with the Patriots holding a 17-7 lead in the second quarter, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer threw a pass toward the end zone intended for wide receiver Chad Johnson. Samuel cut underneath and intercepted the pass at the 2, which preserved the 10-point lead. Patriots cornerback Randall Gay capped off a fourth quarter drive by the Bengals with his first interception of the year. In all, Patriots defensive backs held Bengals top receiver, Chad Johnson to three catches for 53 yards.
A Boston Globe piece highlights Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss, who put forth another stellar performance with nine catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals. This marked his fourth consecutive game with 100 or more yards to begin the 2007 season. Moss is the first player in NFL history to record 100 or more receiving yards in each of his first four games with a new team.
A Providence Journal piece notes that Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel continues to show off his skill as a tight end as he hauled in a Tom Brady pass a touchdown in the first quarter. Vrabel has caught nine passes since coming to the Patriots from Pittsburgh as an unrestricted free agent in 2001, and all of them have been for touchdowns.
Quick Hits
- The Boston Globe's Patriots Blog takes a look at who's up and who's down from the Patriots' 34-13 win over the Bengals.
- A Boston Herald piece highlights the best and worst from last nights 34-13 Patriots win over Cincinnati.
- The Providence Journal offers an analysis of last nights Patriots win.
